Spinning top



F. WARTELL SPINNING TOP Aug. 3, 1948.

Filed NOV. 50, 1946 INVENTORL .HQED WARTELL ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1948 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPINNING TOP Fred Wartell, Bronx, N. Y.

Application. November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,214

Claims. 1

This invention relates to -tops adapted to be whirled upon a support.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a top a convenient" means for retaining the same with the thumb and fingers while the cord which is fixed to the top is drawn outwardly from the same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ball bearing arrangement which can be fixed within the upper portion of the top and includes a depression into which the thumb can be extended to retain the top on its support while the cord is being drawn.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a top with a thumb connection which is of simple construction, easy to form and eflicient .in operation.

According to the invention, the upper face of the top is provided with a central depression adapted to receive the thumb as the top is being held upon a support at the time the cord is drawn. According to a modified form of the invention, this depressed portion is supported upon ball bearings and the entire arrangement of the ball bearings and the depressed portion is assembled into a recess in the upper portion of the top as a unit.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, refence will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively perspective and top plan views of the top embodying the features according to one form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the top with portions broken away to show the contour of the central depressed thumb portions.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a modified top in which there is a depressed thumb portion and ball bearing arrangement assembled into a recess in the upper portion of the top as a unit.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the depressed portion and ball bearing arrangement removed from the body of the top.

Fig. 6 is a side elevatiorral view of the body of the top broken away to show the recess for receiving the depressed portion and ball bearing itshead II will serve as a pivot point for the top. The body ID has a series of grooves [2 surrounding the same and on which the cord used to spin the top is to be wound, as is generally known in the art. The upper portion of the body ID has a depression l3 adapted to receive the thumb of the person spinning the top. A smooth finish is provided in this depression 13 so as to reduce frictional cont-act between the thumb and the top and so not materially resist free rotation of the top. An annular depression l4 surrounds the depression I3.

Referring now particularly to the further modification of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, there is shown a top body I! with a recess l8 extending into the upper portion thereof in lieu of the depression l3 and at the same central location thereof. Within this recess l8 there is fitted a combined thumb portion and ball bearing unit [9. This unit l9 comprises a bottom plate 2| adapted to lie in the bottom of the recess and serve as the bottom race for ball bearings 22. An upper part or thumb portion 23 has a race formation 24 adapted to fit down over the ball bearings 22. The thumb portion 23 has the depression 25 into which the thumb is seated at the time of starting the top. The portion 23 is free to rotate within the recess Hi. In order to maintain the unit within the recess l8, the recess is undercut from a top edge 26. The thumb portion 23 can be slightly sprung in-order to locate the same under the top edge 26. This top may be made to continue its spinning by whipping at its narrow portion with a whip.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A top of substantially conical shape having a circular recess in the upper portion thereof, and a rotatable thumb unit fitted within the recess, said thumb unit comprising a thumb portion with a. depression therein to receive the thumb, ball bearings within the recess and below the thumb portion.

2. A top of substantially conical shape having a circular recess in the upper portion thereof, and a rotatable thumb unit fitted within the recess, said thumb unit comprising a thumb portion with 3 a depression therein to receive the thumb, ball bearings within the recess and below the thumb portion, said thumb portion having a top race formation or the ball bearings and a bottom race for the bearings resting in the bottom of the recess.

3. A top of substantially conical shape having a circular recess in the upper portion thereon, and a rota able hu b. u tefitt d within, the recess, saidthumb unit comprising a thumb portion with a depression therein to receive the thumb, ball bearings within the recess and below the thumb portion, said recess being slightly undercut from its top edge and said thumb portion,"

being adapted to be sprung beneath the, top edge 15 g of the recess whereby the recess top edge will' retain the thumb within thexeoess;

4. A top of substantially conical shape having a circular recess in the upper portion thereon, and

amtatable thumb unit' 'fitted within the recess,

said thumb unit comprising a thumb portion with a-depression therein to receivethe'thumb, ball bearings within the recess and-below the thumb portion said thumb portion having atop race formation for the --ball bearings anda bottom race for the bearings restingin the'bottom of the recess, said recess being' 'slight1y undercut from its top edge and said thumb portion being adapted to be sprung beneath the top edge of the recess whereby the recess top edge will retain the thumb within the recess.

5. A top, comprising a body of conical shape having a recess extended in from the top end thereof, a bottom race for ball bearings resting in the bottom of said recess, ball bearings nested in said ,bottom race, and a top race rested on 10 saidball bearings andghaving'its top {face flush with the top end of said body, said top race being formed with a central depression for receiving a thumb.

FRED WARTELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following refierences are of record in the filenoi, this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number- Name Date 2,111,180 Fessenmeyer Ma'r. 1551933 7 FOREIGNPATE'NTSM v Number Country- Date France: Feb: .22; ,1904 

